Nevada WJRA Holds Annual Banquet

By LACEY SPROUL-TOM

The Progress

The Nevada junior rodeo program gave out awards to athletes at its annual banquet last month in Logandale. Pictured here l to r are award winners Violet Tillman, Ellie Webber, Lizzie Fradella, Rylee Necas, Valentina Espinoza, Fallon Yardley, Madison Solis, Allie Frehner, Andi Webber. PHOTO BY DAMON JACKSON/The Progress

Local junior rodeo athletes and their families got together at the end of the state Wrangler Junior Rodeo Association (WJRA) season to celebrate the accomplishments of these young local cowpokes at a special banquet. More than 243 people attended this year’s event which was held at the Fine Arts Building at the Logandale Fairgrounds on May 21.

The event was also a fundraiser to help bring in money to get the next WJRA season off on the right foot. The banquet brought in a total of $19,221 to start off the next season.

Kasen Kolhoss was the master of ceremonies for the event and brought the excitement to help raise money.
“I always enjoy working with WJRA,” said Kolhoss “It is a great fun group to work with. The crowd is always full of excitement and very generous when it comes to giving back to the kids.”

The kids were recognized and awards were presented for their performance throughout the year. The top 5 athletes in each rodeo event were recognized.

Another group of junior rodeo award winner include s l to r Porter Solis, Colton Williams, Rylan Sproul and Cade Stewart.

In team roping, the top five girls in the senior (age 13-18) category in order or ranking were Fallon Yardley, Valentina Espinoza, Allie Frehner, Andi Webber and Madison Solis.

In senior division poles the top athletes were Rylee Necus, Andi Webber, Allie Frehner, Lizze Fradella, and Sierra Stock.

Senior girls goat tying top 5 were Andi Webber, Allie Frehner, Valentina Espinoza, Ellie Webber, and Fallon Yardley.

Senior girls breakaway roping: Andi Webber, Allie Frehner, Valentina Espinoza, Ellie Webber and Fallon Yardley.

Senior girls barrel racing were: Andi Webber, Rylee Necus,Madison Solis, Allie Frehner, and Fallon Yardley.

On the boys side, senior division the top 5 in team roping in order were: CJ Christian, Hunter Fry, Carlos Baspoli, Morgan Williams and Wyatt Williams.

Top five senior boys steer stopping:: CJ Christian, Wyatt Williams, Carlos Baspoli, Austin Frehner, and Morgan Williams.

Senior boys flags top 5 were: Morgan Williams, CJ Christian,Carlos Baspoli, Austin Frehner, and Levi Necus.

Senior boys chute dogging top 5 were: Carlos Baspoli, CJ Christian, Wyatt Williams, Austin Frehner and Hunter Fry.

Senior boys calf roping top 5 were: CJ Christina, Austin Frehner, Wyatt Williams, Morgan Williams and Conner Theil.

In the junior age category (ages 8-12), the team roping top five in order were Evie Davis, Charlize Brinkerhoff, Raelee Christian, Shelby Fry, and Dallie Griffith.

Junior girls poles: Haisely Griffith, Dezlee Brinkerhoff, Raelee Christen, Evie Davis, and Shelby Fry.
Junior girls goat tying: Raelee Christian, Evie Davis, Dallie Griffith, Shelby Fry and Charlize Brinkerhoff.
Junior Girls Breakaway roping: Evie Davis, Raelee Christian, Dallie Griffith, Charlize Brinkerhoff and Shelby Fry.

Junior girls barrel racing: Dallie Griffith, Palynn Zarndt, Evie Davis, Raelee Christian and Haisely Griffith.

On the boys side for junior division the team roping top five in order were Cade Steward, Colton Williams, Porter Solis, Stihl Yardley and Chet Walch.

Junior boys steer stopping: Cade Steward, Colton Williams, Rylan Sproul, Chet Walch and Stihl Yardley.

Junior boys goat tying: Cade Steward, Chet Walch, Porter Solis, Colton Williams and Rylan Sproul.

Junior boys flags top five: Porter Solis, Colton Williams, Cade Steward, Rylan Sproul and Stihl Yardley.

Junior boys breakaway roping top five were: Cade Steward, Porter Solis, Kash Jepson, Colton Williams and Stihl Yardley.

For the PeeWee (age 3-7) category, the girls poles top 5 in order were Paityn Young, Bethany Rose Snyder, Hadlee Steele, Codie Sherwood, and Kinsley Newton.

Peewee girls goat tail pull: Hadlee Steele; Paityn Young; Tatum Hunt; Codie Sherwood and Bethany Rose Snyder.

Peewee girls dummy roping: Hadlee Steele, Bethany Rose Snyder, Paityn Young, Harper Robinson and Mesa McTaggart.

Peewee girls breakaway roping: Hadlee Steele, Bethany Rose Snyder, Paityn Young, Codie Sherwood and Mesa McTaggart.

Peewee Girls Barrel Racing: Paityn Young, Bethany Rose Snyder, Hadlee Steele, Kinsley Newton and Codie Sherwood.

For the PeeWee boys goat tail pull the top five in order were Cooper Christian, Emmet Knaub, Bradley Topol, Stetson Steele and Kade Mitschke.

Peewee boys flags: Cooper Christian, Emmett Knaub, Stetson Steele, Grayson Tom and Bradley Topol.
Peewee boys dummy roping: Bradley Topol; Emmett Knaub; Cooper Christian; Stetson Steele and Grayson Tom.

Peewee boys barrel racing: Emmett Knaub, Cooper Christian, Stetson Steele, Bradley Topol and Emmett Hunt.

The top ten all around leaders in the senior and junior age divisions were recognized as well.

Top ten Senior Girls (in order of placing): Andi Webber, Allie Frehner, Madison Solis, Fallon Yardley, Valentina Espinoza, Rylee Necus, Ellie Webber, Sierra Stock, Lizze Fradella and Haley Gibson.

Top ten Senior Boys: CJ Christian, Morgan Williams, Austin Frehner, Carlos Baspoli, Wyatt Williams, Hunter Fry, Levi Necus, Conner Theil and Luke Thiel.

Junior Girls top ten: Raelee Christian, Evie Davis, Dallie Griffith, Shelby Fry, Charlize Brinkerhoff, Dezlee Brinkerhoff, Halsey Griffith, Palynn Zarndt, Addysen Sherwood; and Sage Spencer.

Junior Boys top ten: Cade Steward, Colton Williams, Porter Solis, Chet Walch, Stihl Yardley, Rylan Sproul, Kash Jepson, JT Tibbitts, Mason Steward; and Preston Young.

The peewee girls all around and qualifier leaders were: Hadlee Steele, Paityn Young, Bethany Rose Snyder, Codie Sherwood, Tatum Hunt, Kinsley Newton, Madelyn Millward, Harper Robinson, Emerson Bennett, Bailey Lawrimore, Mesa McTaggart, Seda Ashworth, Annie Plehn, Aspyn Tom, Kinsley Robinson, Blakely Young and Zoey Zinovitch.

Peewee boys all around and qualifier leaders: Emmett Knaub;, Cooper Christian, Bradley Topol, Stetson Steele, Grayson Tom, Emett Hunt, Kade Mitschke, Javier Rodriguez, Wesley Jones, Kasyn Mitschke, Laredo Spencer, Ryland Rodriquez, Toot Hardy and Roper Simmers.

A special award sponsored by Sleppy Construction is awarded each year. It is given by company owner Walter Sleppy, an active grandparent and supporter of the association. He attends almost every rodeo, and observes the kids’ behavior both in and out of the arena. Then he selects a peewee and junior cowboy and cowgirl to earn the title of Most Improved. Selected were Peewee Girl Mesa McTaggart; Peewee Boy Javier Rodriquez; Junior Boy Mason Steward; and Junior Girl Faith Newton.

Scholarships were awarded to one senior boy and girl. Applicants were reviewed for academic achievements, letters of recommendation, an essay, and participation in community events. The winners of the scholarship this year were: Wyatt Williams, Valentina Espinoza, Austin Frehner and Lizzie Fradella.

For more information regarding the Wrangler Junior Rodeo Association of Nevada or to become involved, please visit wjranv.com.